Flash-light.



A. J. DUPONT.

FLASH LIGHT.

APIfLIOATION FILED PBB.17, 1913.

1,074,354 Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

IVITNESSES: [.VVENTOR.

J0? m aw ATTORNEYS.

To all whom it may concern:

" NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR J. DUPONT, OF ADAMS, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ARCHIE H, MONAT, OF HUNTINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FLASH-LIGHT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

, Application filed February 17, 1913. Serial No. 748,786.

' Be it known that I, ARTHUR J. DUPONT, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Adams, in the county of Berkshire and State of Massachusetts, have-invented a new and useful Flash-Light, of which the following is a specification.

Hy inventionrelates to-improvements in electric illuminating devices or lamps known as flashlights, and consists in its preferred form of a case which is adapted to be-fastenedto the back of the hand, a battery infsuchcas lamps arranged in such case to emit light from theback side and front end, switch-levers, for the control of said lamp, extending .from-such case into position behindffthe fingers on thehand to which the devicezis attached, and circuitforming members between said battery,

switch-levers, "and the associated lamps,all-

as hereinafter set forth.

The primary object of my invention 'is for examining the mechanisms thereof when artificial light is required for thatpurpose, and all without unduly fettering the hand that carries the light or necessarily withdrawing such hand or its fingers from other service for more. than an instant of time.

Although this device is more particularly valuable for signaling urposes, its use-inother directions, some 0 which have just been mentioned, is scarcely less important.

A further object is to provide a device of this kind that is comparatively li ht in weight, compact, most conveniently a apted for attachment to the hand and operation by the fingers, and withal highly practicable and eflicient. i

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the following description.

I attain the objects and" secure the advantages of my invention by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which Figure 1 is'a backside or rear elevation of a flash-light whichembodies' a practical form of my invention; Fig. 2, a top plan or front end elevation of said flash-light;

Fig. 3, a top plan or front end elevation of levers in elevation; I

Similar figures refer to throughout theseveral views.

Referring to thedrawings, it will be obsimilar parts served "-that I firstprovide a case 1, which '13 of suitable-size and shape to fit readily the {back bf -the hand,

being preferably slightly concave-convex as shown. This case-is designed to be fastenedto the hand,

with-the concave or" front side next to the backof said hand', by some suitable means.

strap is usually employed for that purpose, hence the case 1 is provided at the side edges with eyes 22 to receive such strap and assist in holding said case in place on-the hand. A cap 3 closes the bottom or rear end of the case.

Set in the upper or front end of the case 1 is an electric lamp 4., over which is a bullseye 5; and set in the back of said case near the aforesaid end is a second lamp (3, and over this a second bulls-eye 7. The lamps 4 and 6 are of ordinary construction and similar to each other. The bulls-eyes 5 and 7 are similar to each other except in color, the bulls-ey'e 7 being'red as a rule, while the bulls-eye 5 is preferably clear or without color. The lamp 6 is the signal lamp, while the other lamp is for ordinary uses and may be termed the observation lamp.

Fastened at 88 to the bottom or front side of the case 1 are two witch levers 9 and'lO, the major portions of which are within said case. The outer terminals of the switch-levers 9 and 10 emerge from the case through openings 111l in the front end thereof, which openings are wide enough to permit of whatever play-may be required on the part of said levers. The switch-levers are made of resilient metal which .is a good conductor .of electricity, as are the-other circuit-forming or contacting members presently to be described, and said levers normally bear against the inner face of the front side of the case, but may be actuated rearwardly or away from such face a their free terminals.

The switch-lever 9 is provided with a contact finger 12 which extends therefrom to the vicinity of the terminal 13of the lamp 6 and is} capable of contacting therewith when said, lever is pressed rearwardly or inwardly, normally, however, said finger is out of contact with said terminal, owing to the arrangement and resilient nature of said lever. The. outer end of the switch-lever 9 is inthe form of aroll 14, which extends beyond the-,adjacentedgeof the case 1.

- The device illustrated in connection herewith is intended to be worn on the right hand, and the roll 14' isso located as to come directly behind the forefinger of such hand, wherefore, by straightening such finger or. pressing thesame backward a little, the switch-lever 9 is actuated, through the medium ofsaid roll, in such a manner and to such an extentas to close the gap between the contact finger 12 and the terminal 13. As soon as the switch-lever 9 is relieved from the pressure of the forefinger said lever springs forward and withdraws the contact finger 12 from the terminal 13. The switch-lever 10 is provided at its outer end with a roll 15, which is similar to the roll 14'and for a similar purpose, that is to say, said roll 15 is designed to serve as the medium for actuating said lever 10 rearwardly, when the back of one of the fingers of the hand is pressed against said last-mentioned roll. Since the switch-lever 10 is located some distance from its companion,

and as it is believed to be preferable generally to operate said lever with the middle finger of the hand, rather than to operate it as might be done by means of either the rmg'finger or the little finger, the outer portion of said lever is offset toward the switchlever 9, as. shown-at 16, and the roll 15 is carried at the free terminal of such offset part. Thus the roll 15 is located in position to be operated by the middle finger. It ma be, remarked at this point that my flash-light can. be as readily adapted for the left hand as for the right.

. Fitting quitesnugly within the case 1, yet without encroaching upon the little space required for'the action 'of the switch-levers 9 and 10, or that occupied by the lamps 4 and 6, is a drybattery 17. To make up the, circuits .from the battery :17 to and through either lamp and back to said battery withthe assistance of the switch-levers,

I employ one battery terminal in the form of-a strip or arm 18, which is arranged and adapted to bear'against and form a good contact with the switch-lever i0, and thus to connect said lever with one, terminal of said battery, and the other battery terminal in the form of two strips or arms 19 and 20. The terminal 18 has a rearWardly-projecting lip 21 located adjacent to the case terminal of the lamp 4, such terminal being represented by dotted lines 22 in Fig. 3, but out of contact with said lamp terminal except when said battery terminal is forced toward said lamp by inward pressure on the switch-lever 10. The battery terminal strips 19 and 20 at their free ends bear against and make good connections or contacts with the case terminal of the lamp 6 and the central or axial terminal 23 of the lamp 4, respectively, the latter terminal being indicated by dotted lines in F ig.v 3. Itwill now be seen that, when the switch-lever 9 is pressed inwardly, the circuit is completed from the battery 17, through the lamp 6 which is lighted, and back to said battery, such circuit comprising the battery terminal 18, the switch-lei'ers and the. case 1, the finger 12 which is now in contact with the lamp terminal 13, said lamp, and the battery terminal strip 19; and that, when the switchlever 10 is pressed inwardly, the circuit is completed from said battery, through the lamp 4 which is lighted, and back to said battery, such latter circuit comprising said terminal 18 which now has its lip 21 in contact with the case terminal of said lamp 4, said last-mentioned lamp, and the battery terminal strip 20. The light in eitherlamp is extinguished the instant the switch-lever which cont-rolslsuch lamp is released so as to break the contact either between the members 12 and 13 or. the, members 21 and 22, as the case may be. I

In practice, after the case 1 is fastened on the back of the right hand, the forefinger of such, hand is straightened or thrown backward to close, by means of the switch-lever 9, the circuit through the lamp 6, whenever itis desired to use the light from said lamp, and the middle finger of such hand is straightened or thrown backward to close, by means. of the switch-lever .10, the circuit throughflthe lamp 4, whenever it is desired to use the light therefrom. Thus the operation is .very simple, is the work of an instant, can be most conveniently accomplished, and interferes but little with the general use of the hand. Only one finger is needed at a; time tolight either lamp. Seldom if ever will both lamps be length the manner of its use, beyond calling attention to the .fact that theremay be a demand for a prolonged illumination of the lamp 4 for observation purposes, as when examining the mechanism of an automobile for example, for which event some means may be provided for relieving and releasing the finger that is holding back the switch-lever 10, without putting out the light. Such means may consist simply of a hook 24 pivoted at 25 tothe front end of the case 1, and capable of engaging the switch-lever 10, when the latter is forced inwardly or rearwardly to cause the lamp 4 to be lighted, and to retain said lever in such position. By dotted lines, in Fi 2, the switch-lever 10 is shown thrown back I and locked in that position by the hook 24.

As long as the switch-lever 10 is thus secured, the controlling finger for such lever is left entirely free, and yet the light continues to burn. Thus said finger is prevented from becoming fatigued and is free for use like the other fingers.

I wish it understood that many modifications involving the use of equivalents and changes in the construction, arrangement and form of some or all of the parts of my device may be made, but such modifications involve no departure from the spirit of my invention, they are within the knowledge of a skilled mechanic, and require no further description here.

- lVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is--' 1. As an improvedarticle of manufacture, a flash-light attachable to the back of the hand and comprising rear-side and front-end lights and provided with switch members for such lights, such switch mem bers being arranged inoperative position behind the fingers of such hand when the device is in place.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, a flash-light attachable to the back of the hand and comprising a plurality of lights and provided with individual controlling means for such lights, such controlling fieans being operable by the fingers of such and.

, 3. The combination, in a flash-light, of a of the fingers of such hand, when the device is in place.

4. The combination, in a flash-light, of a case adapted to be attached to the back of the hand, a batter in such case, lamps arranged to show t rough the back and an end of such case, circuit-forming members between said battery and said lamps, and switches for opening and closing the lamp circuits, such switches having parts that extend into operative position behind the fingers of such hand, when the device is in place.

5. The combination, in a flash-light, of a case adapted to be attached to the back of the hand, and provided with a lamp, a

battery in such case, circuit-forming members between said battery and lamp, a switch for opening and closing the circuit, such switch having a part that extends into operative position behind a finger of such hand, when the device is in place, and means to lock said switch in closed position to relieve or release such finger without extinguishing the light.

' ARTHUR J. DUPONT. Witnesses:

GEORGE A. GALLAGHER, THOMAS O. GOODBEAU. 

